It's that time of year again - when games are bought by the cartload, only to never see the light of monitor screens, and millions of bank accounts around the world collectively weep - the much anticipated Steam Christmas Holiday (postmodernist pansies...) Sale!

I'll endeavour to list the daily specials as they come by when the sale starts, as well as general gimmicks; for referencing purposes for now and posterity. (Or i might stuff it and just link to some other place where someone's already done it. Whatever works. )

What are you looking forward to/hoping for, if anything? How much do you think you'll spend?

[Edit]

So it begins.

Note: This list is by no means complete. At present, it only contains the main sale daily deals. Apart from this, there are myriad Publisher Catalogues, Franchise Sales, and Individual Packs all at various discounts - listing them all would be incredibly impractical.

Today's (20-Dec) daily deals are:

All @ 75% off ~

Pendulo Adventure Pack ($12.49 to $4.97)Orcs Must Die! ($14.99 to $3.74) DLC also discounted.Max Payne and Max Payne 2 ($9.99 to $2.49 each, or $14.99 to $3.74 for both)Portal and Portal 2 ($9.99 to $2.49, and $29.99 to $7.49 respectively; $34.98 to $8.74 for both)Amnesia: The Dark Descent ($19.99 to $4.99)Sam & Max Franchise Sale ($29.99 to $7.49 each for Season One and Season Two; $34.99 to $8.74 for The Devil's Playhouse, and $49.99 to $12.49 for the Complete Pack)Metro 2033 ($19.99 to $4.99)Rift ($29.99 to $7.49 for the Standard Edition "With C-Cap Tactical Shell", and $39.99 to $9.99 for the Ashes of History Edition)Just Cause 2 ($19.99 to $4.99) DLC also dsicountedBunch of Heroes ($9.99 to $2.49)Fable and Fable 3 ($9.99 to $2.49 and $49.99 to $12.49 respectively) DLC also discounted

Huh.. not much interest in Steam/The Holiday Sale.. Could it be that everyone is a console peasant, pirate scum, or just have already obtained all the vidya they want?

Regardless, for posterity's sake, as mentioned above, i shall continue, and archive till the end of the sale.

Day 2 Daily Deals:

Chantelise & Recettear @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49 and $19.99 to $4.99 respectively)Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 @ 50% off ($89.99 to $44.99) DLC also discountedCostume Quest @ 75% off ($14.99 to $3.74)Sacred Gold and Sacred 2: Fallen Angel @ 50% off ($9.99 to $4.99 and $19.99 to $9.99 respectively)Duke Nukem Forever @ 75% off ($49.99 to $12.49)Lego Batman @ 75% off ($19.99 to $4.99)Theatre of War Collection @ 75% off $44.99 to $11.24) DLC and individual games also discountedHalf Life Complete Pack @ 75% off ($39.99 to $9.99) Individual games also discountedThe Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Digital Premium Edition @ 75% and 40% off respectively ($9.99 to $2.49 and $54.99 to $32.99 respectively)Tropico 4: Steam Special Edition @ 66% off ($39.99 to $13.59)Dungeons of Dredmor @ 75% off ($4.99 to $1.24)

Payday: The Heist @ 50% off ($19.99 to $9.99)Jurassic Park: The Game @ 50% off ($29.99 to $14.99)Grotesque Tactics 1 and 2 Pack @ 75% off ($24.99 to $6.24) Individual games also discountedSwords and Soldiers HD @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49)Mount & Blade Complete Pack @ 75% off ($49.99 to $12.49) Individual games also discountedDefense Grid: The Awakening @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49) DLC also discountedF1 2011 @ 50% off ($49.99 to $24.99)Batman: Arkham City @ 50% off ($99.99 to $49.99)S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Bundle and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky @ 75% off ($24.99 to $6.24 and $9.99 to $2.49 respectively) Individual games also discountedNeverwinter Nights™ 2 Platinum @ 75% off ($19.99 to $4.99)Monday Night Combat @ 50% off ($9.99 to $4.99)Sherlock Holmes Collection @ 75% off ($34.99 to $8.74) Individual games also discounted

I got The Orange Box for a bit less than 5 euries. Thought it about time to play Half-Life 2. I made myself a promise of only buying games on Steam anymore when they go below €5, and I'm keeping to it.

Recently got this at Target for a mere $9.99. Probably could have waited for it to get to ~$5 at Steam (didn't realize I needed STEAM when I picked it up in first place). Have Steam, anyway, just didn't know I'd need it for DNF.

Now, I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.---Patton

There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.---Teddy Roosevelt

I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception.---Groucho

And if you all get killed, I'll piss on your graves.---Shaman Urdnot

How would you like to own a little bit of my foot in your ass.---Red Foreman

Also worth mentioning: Deus Ex: Human Revolution is on sale on Amazon Digital @ 75% off (from $39.99 to $9.99), which is a pretty mindblowing special, considering the game's recent release date, and more so, its calibre.

Amazon Digital is also having a holiday sale with daily specials and incredible discounts. Note: According to Amazon's site, these specials are only available to customers located in the US with a registered US billing address.
Definitely worth a look if you're in the US.

I got a Portal gift from one of the promotion achievables but don't have anyone to give it to. Does anyone here want it?

You should see if you can trade it for coal, or, just keep it to give to someone as a gift. If not for now, then for later (it could come in handy). If you really want to get red of it though, then i can take it off your hands.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Totenkopf

Recently got this at Target for a mere $9.99. Probably could have waited for it to get to ~$5 at Steam (didn't realize I needed STEAM when I picked it up in first place). Have Steam, anyway, just didn't know I'd need it for DNF.

I found Steam annoying at first for this reason (having to install it to play certain games), but their genius marketing soon won me over (lure you in with something like Portal for free or required install for game access, and then keep you hooked with crazy sales and daily deals. )

Alien vs. Predator @ 80% off ($39.99 to $7.99) DLC also discountedBack to the Future: The Game @ 60% off ($24.99 to $9.99)Railworks 3: Train Simulator 2012 @90% off ($34.99 to $3.49) Deluxe Edition and DLC also discountedCave Story+ @ 50% off ($9.99 to $4.99)Frozen Synapse @ 75% off ($14.99 to $3.74) Soundtrack also discountedE.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy @ 75% off $9.99 to $2.49)DiRT 3 @ 66% off ($49.99 to $16.99)RAGE @ 50% off ($89.99 to $44.99)Saints Row: The Third @ 33% off ($49.99 to $33.49)Cities XL 2012 @ 50% off ($39.99 to $19.99)From Dust @ 50% off ($14.99 to $7.49)AudioSurf @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49)

I bought AudioSurf as i've been eyeing it for a while and 75% off is a great deal. Managed to get the Holiday Sale 'Candy Stripe' achievement too.

There aren't many specials i'm hoping for; only two: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and Worms: Reloaded. (Also, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, but those are unlikely to be on sale anytime soon)

There aren't many specials i'm hoping for; only two: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and Worms: Reloaded. (Also, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, but those are unlikely to be on sale anytime soon)

Well, you're in luck today. 33% off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JesusIsGonnaOwnSatan

You should see if you can trade it for coal, or, just keep it to give to someone as a gift. If not for now, then for later (it could come in handy). If you really want to get red of it though, then i can take it off your hands.

The problem is that just about everyone on Steam already owns the game so nobody wants to trade for it. You were right though, holding out an extra day allowed me to complete the "Trade with Someone" achievable. Traded it for a useless 50% Valve coupon. I did get a piece of coal out of it though.

Very nice, Master of Orion II for just $3. Worth it even though I already have the game since I couldn't get my old copy to work under Windows 7 any more. One of the few very old games I still kept playing at regular intervals.

Company of Heroes Complete Pack @ 80% off ($44.97 to $8.98) Individual games also discountedTom Clancy Pack @ 77% off ($194.83 to $44.99) Individual games and DLC also discountedHard Reset @ 75% off ($19.99 to $4.99)Prototype @ 75% off ($29.99 to $7.49)Wings of Prey @ 75% off ($19.99 to $4.99) DLC also discountedBlood Bowl: Legendary Edition @ 80% off ($39.99 to $7.99)Plants vs. Zombies @ 66% off ($9.99 to $3.39)The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim @ 33% off $89.99 to $60.29)Jamestown @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49) Deluxe Pack and Soundtrack also discountedBorderlands @ 75% off ($29.99 to $7.49)Renegade Ops @ 66% off ($14.99 to $5.09)Risen @ 50% off ($29.99 to $14.99)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Roboto

Well, you're in luck today. 33% off.

Well, would you look at that.
However, i'm not in a position to be able to play the game right now (and probably won't be for a while), so i'll get the game later, when i have time to play it. I think by then the price should have dropped as low as this anyhow.

Bought the Worms Mayhem + Reloaded pack, and got the relevant holiday achievement in Reloaded. It also induced a little nostalgia - i used to play Worms 2 a lot years ago, and Reloaded's classic 2D interface reminded me of the fun times that were had then. I prefer 2D Worms to 3D any day.

Quake Franchise @ 75% off:
-Quake IV ($19.99 to $4.99)
-Quake Collection ($29.99 to $7.49)Left 4 Dead Bundle @75% off ($29.99 to $7.49) Individual games also discountedLord of the Rings: War in the North @33% off ($73.99 to $49.57)Xotic @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49)Total War @ 75% off:
-Total War: SHOGUN 2 ($29.99 to $7.49) DLC also discounted
-Medieval II: Total War ($9.99 to $2.49)
-Empire & Napoleon Total War - Game of the Year Edition ($49.99 to $12.49) Individual games and DLC also discountedSword of the Stars II: Lords of Winter @ 50% off ($39.99 to $19.99)Two Tribes Pack @ 66% off ($13.99 to $4.75) Individual games also discountedDungeon Siege Complete Pack @ 60% off ($59.99 to $23.99) Individual games also discountedThe Binding of Isaac @ 75% off ($4.99 to $1.24) Soundtrack also discountedMen of War Collector Pack @ 75% off ($74.99 to $18.74) Individual games and DLC also discountedMafia Franchise @ 75% off:
-Mafia ($9.99 to $2.49)
-Mafia II ($29.99 to $7.49) DLC also discounted
-Mafia II Digital Deluxe Edition ($39.99 to $9.99)Wasteland Angel @ 75% off ($9.99 to $2.49)

Note: Up till now, the prices have been of the New Zealand Steam Store. Now, with the exception of day 13, the following prices are of the Australian Steam Store. (I was busy with New Years shenanigans, and wasn't able to list the relevant days' deals from the original data on the NZ Steam Store, so I reconstructed the listing afterwards with the closest available info [the AU Steam Store]. I couldn't find any NZ listings anywhere on the net)

The following listings have also been alphabetized (Again, uniformization is pending).

While these listings aren't as relevant for people outside of AU/NZ, you can use them to see how much we get screwed here down under (NZ more so than AU). One example would be the Assassin's Creed Pack: As listed in Day 10, the NZ USD Holiday Sale price was $99.99. As shown in the listing for the Encore Day, where many deals were reissued, the AU USD Holiday Sale Price was $79.99. In the US, the same Pack had a Holiday Sale price of $59.99. (with the same discrepancies being reflected in the individual games' prices, and many other games such as Arkham city, Modern Warfare 3, and Skyrim).
The RRP's for the Assassin's Creed Pack were $234.96, $173.89, and $129.96 for NZ, Aus, and the US respectively.

I can't really think of any legitimate reason for the vast price differences. I mean, its not like there's any shipping/import costs (its a digital download), or localization that needs to be done (NZ, Aus, and US are all English speaking countries). I must be missing something, because it doesn't really make any sense...